BW INSIGHTS

OSHA Issues Emergency Standard for Health Care

By BrownWinick | 06.22.2021

On June 10, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) establishing heightened COVID-19 workplace safety regulations for most healthcare providers in the United States. In addition to workplace safety requirements, the ETS also reincarnates mandatory paid time off for employees,... Read More

Date of First Use Anywhere

By Jordan Meggison-Decker | 06.21.2021

There are two dates that must be specified in every trademark/service mark application. They are, the date of first use anywhere and the date of first use in commerce. TMEP 903.03. The date of first use anywhere will always be earlier than or the same as the date of first use in commerce. Id. The date of first use anywhere is the date when goods... Read More

New EEOC Guidance on Vaccinations

By Danielle Smid | 06.21.2021

As Americans continue to be vaccinated in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to CDC recommendations, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) updated its COVID-19 guidance on May 28, 2021, regarding employers and COVID-19 vaccines. The new EEC guidance on vaccinations update is in the form of Q&As relating to mandatory... Read More

OSHA Issues New Standards for Healthcare Employers and Updated its Guidance for Non-Healthcare Employers Regarding COVID-19

By Danielle Smid | 06.13.2021

On June 10, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health and Administration (OSHA) issued new standards for healthcare employers and updated its guidance for non-healthcare employers regarding COVID-19. For non-healthcare employers, the updated guidance relies on and is consistent with the CDC’s recent recommendations that fully vaccinated people may... Read More

2021 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 18 Summary

By BrownWinick | 05.17.2021

The Senate has advanced a sweeping tax bill crafted as a compromise between the chamber and Governor Kim Reynolds. SF 619 cleared both the Ways and Means and Appropriations Committees last Tuesday, making it eligible for floor debate. Among other things, the measure would remove the revenue benchmarks the state must meet, or “triggers” for 2018... Read More

State of Iowa Ending Participation in COVID-Related Unemployment Programs Next Month

By BrownWinick | 05.12.2021

Citing a strong labor market, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced yesterday that on June 12, 2021, the state will be ending its participation in federal COVID-related unemployment benefit programs. These enhanced unemployment benefits were made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act of 2020, and provide... Read More

2021 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 17 Summary

By BrownWinick | 05.10.2021

The House Ways and Means Committee unanimously passed a tax proposal last Thursday (HF 893)—the day after the Senate and Governor Kim Reynolds introduced their own compromise bill (SSB 1276). Mental health funding is one of the main differences between the two proposals. Reynolds and the Senate are calling to phase out the mental health property... Read More

Pandemic Poses Potential Re-Entry Problems for Lawful Permanent Residents Abroad

By BrownWinick | 05.03.2021

We are now several weeks beyond the one-year anniversary of the declaration by the World Health Organization recognizing COVID-19 as a global pandemic. While historic vaccine rollout accelerates across the United States, worldwide vaccine distribution efforts display inequities elsewhere. Moreover, travel restrictions, lockdowns, quarantine orders... Read More

2021 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 16 Summary

By BrownWinick | 04.30.2021

The 2021 Iowa legislative session has officially gone into overtime as lawmakers continue crafting next year’s budget. Bills covering 10 major areas of spending, including Education and Health and Human Services, are eligible for floor debate in at least one chamber. The Senate unanimously passed its Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals... Read More

2021 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 15 Summary

By BrownWinick | 04.26.2021

House and Senate Republicans have agreed to spending $100 million next fiscal year as part of a statewide broadband expansion effort. The House GOP folded the funding into the Administration and Regulation budget bill (HF 867) which passed last Wednesday on a party-line vote, 55-37. Governor Kim Reynolds has made rapid broadband expansion one of... Read More